_________________________Death, deception, and a detective with quite a lot to hide stalk the pages of Anthony Horowitz's brilliant new murder mystery, the second in the bestselling series starring Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne._________________________‘You shouldn’t be here. It’s too late…’

These, heard over the phone, were the last recorded words of successful celebrity-divorce lawyer Richard Pryce, found bludgeoned to death in his bachelor pad with a bottle of wine – a 1982 Chateau Lafite worth £3,000, to be precise.

Odd, considering he didn’t drink. Why this bottle? And why those words? And why was a three-digit number painted on the wall by the killer? And, most importantly, which of the man’s many, many enemies did the deed?

Baffled, the police are forced to bring in Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne and his sidekick, the author Anthony, who’s really getting rather good at this murder investigation business.

But as Hawthorne takes on the case with characteristic relish, it becomes clear that he, too, has secrets to hide. As our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case, he realises that these secrets must be exposed – even at the risk of death…_____________________________

"Anthony Horowitz gets away with murder in all sorts of ways and emerges triumphant" – THE TIMES, Books of the Year

"This is crime fiction as dazzling entertainment, sustained by writing as skilfully light-footed as Fred Astaire" – SUNDAY TIMES CRIME CLUB (STAR PICK)

"A crime story that keeps you up into the small hours… a page-turning mystery" – METRO

"Sheer genius ... The narrative is hilarious and full of Holmesian clues and deliberate errors which will leave the eagle-eyed reader feeling just a bit smug. A joy from start to finish" – INDEPENDENT"One of the most creative writers in the country today" – JEREMY VINE

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"A new Anthony Horowitz novel is always something to look forward to. Anyone who likes a good Midsomer-style murder mystery will love The Sentence is Death" (CultureFly)

"Sheer genius ... The narrative is hilarious and full of Holmesian clues and deliberate errors which will leave the eagle-eyed reader feeling just a bit smug. A joy from start to finish" (Independent)

From the Inside Flap

Richard Pryce is an smooth-tongued barrister who has made a fortune out of divorces - and a lot of enemies in the process. He lives in a modern, architecturally designed house on the edge of Hampstead Heath.

Or rather he used to ...

When he is found murdered, the police confront the most baffling of mysteries: who was the visitor who came to Pryce's house moments before he died and while he was still on the phone?

“You shouldn’t be here. It’s too late…” were his last recorded words but what exactly did he mean?

Why did his killer paint a three-digit number on the wall before leaving the crime scene? And why was he bludgeoned to death with an expensive bottle of wine when he didn't drink alcohol?

The police are forced to hand the case to Private Investigator Daniel Hawthorne, who takes it on with characteristic relish.

But Hawthorne himself has secrets to hide and as our reluctant narrator becomes ever more embroiled in the case he realises that these are secrets that need to be exposed - even if it puts his own life in danger ...

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This was my first time out with Mr Horowitz and I really enjoyed it. I found the writing style really smooth and easy to fall straight into, meaning you wanted to just carry on reading. I really liked the device of the writer as the foil to the police officer, it was great fun, and they were good complimentary characters. Very enjoyable all round.

Three short evenings and this was finished. Always enjoyable with AH books.No overt violence - always a plus for me.The plot unravels well though the last chapter was a give away. No spoiler from me though.I heard his interview on the radio so know there will be more in the series.

Anthony Horowitz is one of the most talented writers working today. Ingenious plotting and innovative characterisation, including the character he creates for himself. Mr Horowitz allegedly ‘plays’ himself in the narrative. But is in real life Mr Horowitz is NOT the inept and servile Dr Watson to Detective Daniel Hawthorne‘a Sherlock portrayed here. But it’s an engaging character and the reader ends up rooting for him. A great read.

Once again, Horowitz mixes a bit of fact with his fiction as he chronicles another case involving ex-policeman Daniel Hawthorne. In a way, he’s Watson to Hawthorne’s Holmes. You have to suspend disbelief to accept this scenario, but I found it easy, because this is an excellent crime story, with plenty of twists and turns. I’m already looking forward to the next one.

Horovitiz does it again and is back with a bang with his second Hawthorn book. Intriguing right form the start, this book documents twists and tales as well as the odd couple relationship between Hawthorn and Horovitiz. More please!

This was my third Anthony Horowitz book - started with Magpie Murders after I heard it reviewed on the radio; followed with The Word Is Murder; just had to continue the Hawthorne story. Well written (a must for me), some real laugh-out-loud moments, and now I REALLY need to know what this guy's problem is. I do hope we don't stop at three Hawthorne tales!